Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
The primary health-care provider prescribes a cough syrup 0.4 g every 4 hours. The dosage strength of the syrup is 100 mg/5 mL. The medication bottle contains a measuring spoon that measures in teaspoons and tablespoons. How many teaspoons will the nurse instruct the client to take?
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - RN ATI Medsurg Proctored Exam. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
Step 1: Convert the Prescribed Dose to Milligrams
The prescribed dose is 0.4 grams (g), but the medication strength is in milligrams (mg). We need to use the same unit for both.
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There are 1000 mg in 1 g.
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To convert 0.4 g to mg, we multiply by 1000.
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0.4×1000=400
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The prescribed dose is 400 mg.
Step 2: Calculate the Volume (in mL) Needed for the Dose
We know that 5 mL of the syrup contains 100 mg of medication. We need to find out how many mL are needed for 400 mg.
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To find out how many groups of 100 mg are in 400 mg, we divide:
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400÷100=4
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This means we need 4 times the volume of syrup that contains 100 mg.
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The volume for 100 mg is 5 mL. So, we multiply 4 by 5 mL.
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4×5 mL=20 mL
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The total volume needed per dose is 20 mL.
Step 3: Convert the Volume to Teaspoons
The measuring spoon is in teaspoons (tsp). We need to convert 20 mL to teaspoons.
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There are 5 mL in 1 teaspoon.
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To find out how many teaspoons are in 20 mL, we divide 20 by 5.
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20÷5=4
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The dose is 4 teaspoons.
The nurse will instruct the client to take 4 teaspoons.
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Similar Questions
A nurse is preparing a teaching session about reducing the risk of complications of diabetes mellitus. Which of the following information should the nurse plan to include in the teaching? (Select all that apply.)
A. Sustain hyperglycemia to reduce deterioration of nerve.
Incorrect. Sustaining hyperglycemia is not a recommended approach. In fact, it is crucial to maintain blood glucose levels within a target range to prevent complications associated with diabetes.
B. Maintain optimal blood pressure to prevent kidney damage.
Correct. Maintaining optimal blood pressure is important for preventing kidney damage, which is a common complication of diabetes. High blood pressure can exacerbate kidney problems in individuals with diabetes.
C. Reduce cholesterol and saturated fat intake.
Correct. Reducing cholesterol and saturated fat intake is important for managing cardiovascular risk factors associated with diabetes. Elevated cholesterol levels are a risk factor for heart disease, which is more prevalent in individuals with diabetes.
D. Enroll in a smoking cessation program.
Correct. Enrolling in a smoking cessation program is essential. Smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, which is already elevated in individuals with diabetes. Quitting smoking is a crucial step in reducing this risk.
E. Increase physical activity.
Correct. Increasing physical activity is an important component of diabetes management. Regular exercise helps improve insulin sensitivity, maintain a healthy weight, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.
Full Explanation
A. Incorrect. Sustaining hyperglycemia is not a recommended approach. In fact, it is crucial to maintain blood glucose levels within a target range to prevent complications associated with diabetes.
B. Correct. Maintaining optimal blood pressure is important for preventing kidney damage, which is a common complication of diabetes. High blood pressure can exacerbate kidney problems in individuals with diabetes.
C. Correct. Reducing cholesterol and saturated fat intake is important for managing cardiovascular risk factors associated with diabetes. Elevated cholesterol levels are a risk factor for heart disease, which is more prevalent in individuals with diabetes.
D. Correct. Enrolling in a smoking cessation program is essential. Smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, which is already elevated in individuals with diabetes. Quitting smoking is a crucial step in reducing this risk.
E. Correct. Increasing physical activity is an important component of diabetes management. Regular exercise helps improve insulin sensitivity, maintain a healthy weight, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.
The primary healthcare provider prescribes a cough syrup of 0.4 g every 4 hours. The dosage strength of the syrup is 100 mg/5 mL. The medication bottle contains a measuring spoon that measures in teaspoons and tablespoons. How many teaspoons will the nurse instruct the client to take?
Full Explanation
One gram is equal to 1000 milligrams, one milliliter is equal to 0.2 teaspoons, and one teaspoon is equal to 5 milliliters. Using these conversion factors, the nurse can perform the following steps:
- Multiply the prescribed amount of cough syrup by 1000 to get the equivalent in milligrams: 0.4 g x 1000 = 400 mg
- Divide the equivalent in milligrams by the dosage strength of the syrup to get the equivalent in milliliters: 400 mg / 100 mg/5 mL = 20 mL
- Multiply the equivalent in milliliters by 0.2 to get the equivalent in teaspoons: 20 mL x 0.2 = 4 teaspoons
Therefore, the nurse will instruct the client to take 4 teaspoons of cough syrup every 4 hours.
A nurse is planning care for a client who is postoperative following a thyroidectomy. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
A. Place the head of the client's bed in the flat position.
Placing the head of the client's bed in the flat position is contraindicated after a thyroidectomy due to the risk of compromising the airway and causing respiratory distress. The head of the bed should be elevated to semi-Fowler's position to promote comfort and reduce swelling.
B. Instruct the client to deep breathe every 4 hr.
Correct. Instructing the client to deep breathe every 4 hours is important for preventing respiratory complications and maintaining lung function after surgery. This helps prevent atelectasis and pneumonia.
C. Hyperextend the client's neck.
Hyperextending the client's neck is contraindicated after a thyroidectomy, as it can put tension on the suture line and potentially cause bleeding or damage to the surgical site. The neck should be maintained in a neutral or slightly flexed position.
D. Check the client's voice every 2 hr.
Checking the client's voice every 2 hours is not a necessary intervention. While assessing vocal cord function is important, checking it this frequently may cause unnecessary disruption to the client's rest and recovery. It is generally assessed less frequently unless there are specific concerns about vocal cord function.
Full Explanation
- Choice A Rationale: Placing the head of the bed in the flat position is not recommended as it can increase the risk of airway obstruction and reduce venous drainage from the head, which is especially critical after thyroid surgery.
- Choice B Rationale: While deep breathing is important postoperatively, it is not specific to thyroidectomy care and should be done more frequently than every 4 hours to ensure adequate ventilation and prevent atelectasis.
- Choice C Rationale: Hyperextending the client's neck can be harmful post-thyroidectomy as it may put stress on the surgical site, potentially leading to dehiscence or damage to the area.
- Choice D Rationale: Checking the client's voice every 2 hours is essential after a thyroidectomy because vocal cord paralysis can be an indicator of recurrent laryngeal nerve damage, which is a potential complication of the surgery. Monitoring the voice allows for early detection and intervention.